The paper addresses and evaluates the currency boards’ policy and assesses whether the economic development of Bosnia and Herzegovina is the function of currency boards, as a form of monetary policy. In this context, a hypothesis that the currency boards provides the foundation for growth and development of a transition economy is being put to the test. To test the hypothesis, the paper compares the movement of economic growth indicators (gross domestic product) among the countries of South Eastern Europe with the primary focus on Bosnia and Herzegovina. By comparing the obtained results, as well as by applying the correlation and regression analysis, by means of simple linear regression, it is proven that the currency boards do not represent an obstacle to economic growth, but is the basis for establishing the stability of the economy and the basis for sustainable growth and development able to adequately respond to shocks.

: A música popular é um artefato midiático através do qual são tramitados socialmente conceitos, valores, atitudes e estratégias de identidade individual e coletiva. Através das letras, podemos refletir sobre assuntos importantes, nos emocionamos, reconhecemos a uma identidade cultural. Na música universal, temas que vão desde o amor à exploração do trabalho se presentificam, e a identidade dos imigrantes fica de fora do escopo temático das canções. Este trabalho é uma relação entre as áreas de Língua Inglesa, uma vez que todas as canções estudadas são deste idioma, é de Língua Portuguesa, na questão da interpretação e análise de construção do sentido. Assim, para compreender um pouco mais da identidade dos imigrantes e demais aspectos sociais elucidados pela linguagem, esta pesquisa se propôs a investigar como se dá a construção de sentido das canções que trazem à luz o universo do povo imigrante. Esta pesquisa tem por natureza ser qualitativa. Em primeiro lugar, investigaremos as dentre as mais tocadas do cenário pop internacional nos últimos 20 anos que elucidam, de alguma maneira, a identidade dos imigrantes. Inicialmente, investigaremos canções de sucesso mundial, de grandes artistas ou bandas reconhecidas internacionalmente, que são facilmente reconhecidas pelo público. Para análise da construção de sentido, privilegiaremos o domínio conceptual básico do frame. Estes tipos frame são associados a expressões ou a itens lexicais e, ao se relacionarem com outros frames, auxiliam na construção do significado. Ao associarmos os itens lexicais “flores”, “choro” e “caixão”, elucidamos o frame de velório, por exemplo. A partir dos critérios definidos pela pesquisadora bolsista, que buscou pelas músicas mais tocadas na plataforma YouTube, chegamos às seguintes canções para compor o corpus desta pesquisa: a)  Immigrant Song, Led Zeppelin; b) American Oxygen, Rihanna; c) Prayer of the Refugee, Rise Against, d) Immigration Man, Crosby & Nash, e) Ellis Islans, Mary Black, f) America, Neil Diamond, g) Immigration Blues, Chris Rea, h) City of Immigrants, Steve Earle e i) The Refugee, U2. Tomando como base os elementos analisados, é possível afirmar que a figura imigrante é uma figura submissa a condições sociais e de gênero. É um ser que não tem o domínio de seu próprio destino e que aguarda sempre a chegada de outra pessoa, pela indefinição tonal, que espessa toda uma ampla gama de transferências interpretativas, colaborando densa e criticamente para o pensamento recente sobre imigração no país.

Backgroud: Intervertebral disc herniations are caused by rupture of the fibrous ring and migration of one part of the nucleus pulposus towards the spinal canal. The most commonly affected levels are C5-C6 and C6-C7. Surgical treatment of cervicobrachialgia is indicated in the presence of long-term intense pain syndrome with or without radicular sensory-motor deficit and magnetic resonance (MRI) verified disc herniation with a compressive effect. Objective: The most common surgical treatment is anterior lateral microdiscectomy with or without the use of implants. In addition to this method, dorsolateral microsurgical treatment can be used for foraminal hernias. Methods: This retrospective study included 110 (58 / 52.7% male and 52 / 47.3% female) patients with cervical disc herniations who were surgically treated at the Neurosurgery clinic of Clinical Center of Sarajevo University (CCUS) in a five-year period. Stability, postoperative curvature, arthrodesis, implants, and changes in adjacent segments were radiographically analyzed. In the outcome assessment, functional outcome and patient satisfaction were analyzed using the Pain Self-Evaluation Scale (VAS), Prolo functional and economic score, and White’s classification of treatment outcomes. Results: The dominant prevalence of changes was recorded at the levels of C5-C6 (58%) and C4-C5 (28%) with a ventrolateral approach performed in 90% of patients. The largest representation is hard dorsolateral discs (n = 77). In the group of patients with placed implant, hard discs were present in 96 (90%) cases (p <0.001), while soft discs were dominant in patients without implant placement (p <0.001). In the group of subjects with implant, the most common are hard dorsolateral discs and those of mixed localization in 41 of 55 patients (65.5%; p = 0.001). The most common implant is PEEK cage (74.5%). From complications, we had partial vertebral body fractures in 4.5% of patients. Furtehr, the most common are sensory disturbances in 2.73% of respondents. Reduction of symptoms and improvement of preoperative neurological status were observed in over 95% of patients. Conclusion: Surgical treatment of cervical disc herniation is a safe method with a minimal percentage of complications. Microsurgical discectomy significantly contributes to the improvement of the functional status of patients, the reduction of pain, and the improvement of neurological deficit and overall mobility.

Background: Infantile hemangiomas (IH) are the most common vascular, benign tumors of childhood with a prevalence of 4-5%. Due to intense vasculogenesis, they proliferate during infancy, then involute at an unpredictable rate, extent of involution, and quality of residual tissue. Depending on the location, they may be associated with anomalies of other organ systems (PHACE, PELVIS syndroms). In recent decades, knowledge about hemangiomas has improved, and therefore therapeutic possibilities have improved. Today, the non-selective beta blocker–propranolol is considered the drug of first choice in the treatment of infantile hemangiomas. It is desirable to start treatment in the proliferative phase of hemangioma growth for the best possible effect. The dynamics of drug administration, time interval of dose increase and monitoring of patients during treatment vary from one Institution to another and are still the subject of discussion. Objective: We presented the case of a child with infantile hemangioma of the lumbo-sacral region, treated with combination therapy with systemic propranolol and topical timolol, with satisfactory effect in the end. Conclusion: Propranolol is considered a drug with well-studied side effects and a safety profile. During 6 months of treatment, it leads to complete or almost complete withdrawal of the hemangioma. Treatment should be started in the hemangioma proliferation phase for the best possible therapeutic effect.

Polygonum aviculare and Persicaria amphibia (subfam. Polygonoideae) are used in traditional cuisines and folk medicine in various cultures. Previous studies indicated that phytochemicals obtained from Polygonoideae plants could sensitize chemoresistant cancer cells and enhance the efficacy of some cytostatics. Here, the cytotoxic properties of chemically characterized ethanol extracts obtained from P. aviculare and P. amphibia, individually and in combination with doxorubicin (D), were determined against hepatocarcinoma HepG2 cells. Phenolic composition, cell viability, cell cycle, apoptosis, and the expression of Keap1 and Nrf2 were examined by following methods: LC-MS/MS, LC-DAD-MS, MTT, flow cytometry, and qRT-PCR. Extracts were rich in dietary polyphenolics. Synergistic cytotoxicity was detected for extracts combined with D. The observed synergisms are linked to the interference with apoptosis, cell cycle, and expression of Keap1-Nrf2 genes involved in cytoprotection. The combined approach of extracts and D could emerge as a potential pathway of chemotherapy improvement.

Endurance training (ET) has multiple beneficial effects on cardiovascular health (CVH), but there is an evident lack of knowledge on differential effects of various types of ET on indices of CVH in women. The aim of this study was to analyse the effectiveness of two different types of ET on changes in indicators of CVH in apparently healthy adult women. The sample included 58 women (24 ± 3 years; height: 165 ± 6 cm, mass: 66.7 ± 7.2 kg, BMI: 24.3 ± 2.5 kg/m2, at baseline) divided into one control non-exercising group (n = 19), and two exercising experimental groups (EE). The first EE participated in choreographed aerobic-endurance training (CAT; n = 19), while the second participated in treadmill-based endurance exercise (TEE; n = 20) during the experimental protocol (8 weeks, 24 training sessions). The testing included pre- and post-exercise protocols and measures of anthropometric/body composition indices, lipid panel, and endurance capacity. Two-way analysis of variance for repeated measurements with consecutive post hoc analysis was applied to the “group” and “measurement” variables. The main significant ANOVA effects found for measurement, and “Group x Measurement” interaction (p < 0.05) were found for all variables but body height. The EE induced positive changes in lipid panel variables, anthropometric/body-build status, and endurance capacity. However, TEE improved endurance capacity to a greater extent than CAT. The results suggest that that the optimal exercise intensity and self-chosen type of physical-activity may result in positive effects on indices of CVH, even in women of young age and good health status.

Abstract Introduction During Covid-19 many staff members were redeployed to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with little opportunity to train in the new skills they would require. One such skill was the transfer of a critically ill, and contagious, patient from ICU; a risky and complicated procedure which requires planning, preparation, risk assessment, situational awareness and, ideally, experience. To assist our colleagues in this skill an existing ICU transfer course has been adapted to cover the Covid-19 situation, or any similar contagious pandemic, in patient transfer. Methods An in-situ simulation method was chosen as the most realistic method of immersing our participants into the environment of ICU and to highlight real-life complexities and issues they may face. A multidisciplinary training session was devised so that novice anaesthetists, ACCPs and nurses could learn together, reflective of the usual team. Human factors such as communication, team leadership, task management and situational awareness are the focus of the post-simulation debrief, and human factors sheets have been created to guide the participants in analysing these skills. Pre- and post-simulation confidence, knowledge and attitudes will be assessed using validated appraisal tools and questionnaires to gather both quantitative and qualitative data about the experience. Discussion Multidisciplinary training is often difficult to arrange, due to the different requirements, processes, and procedures each department demands. A hidden blessing of Covid-19 is the realisation that this barrier can be broken, for the benefit of our patients and colleagues alike, and training sessions like this implemented.